Dictionary of Banking Terms: curtesy
curtesy
legal interest, referred to as a life estate, of a husband in the property of his wife after her death. The legal interest held by a widow is a dower.
Dictionary of Business Terms: curtesy
curtesy
husband's right in common law, upon the death of his wife, to a life estate in all lands that his wife owned in fee simple or in fee tail at any time during the marriage, provided that there was issue born of the marriage capable of inheriting the estate.
Dictionary of Real Estate Terms: curtesy
curtesy
the right of a husband to all or part of his deceased wife's realty regardless of the provisions of her will. Exists in only a few states.
Example: Under the curtesy law of some states, a widower may claim a life estate to part of the property left by his deceased wife, provided they had a child in their marriage.
